Foot and leg covering, overgaiter, and the like



G. MANOLIS Aug. 9, 1938.

FOOT AND LEG COVERING, OVERGAITER, AND THE LIKE Filed July 51. 1937 Patented Aug. 9, 1938 PATENT OFFICE FDOT AND LEG COVERING, OVERGAITER, AND THE LIKE George Manolis, Chicago, 111., assignor of onehalf to Eustitheos Manclis, Chicago, 111.

Application July 31, 1937, Serial No. 156,719 3 Claims. (Cl. 36-2) My present invention relates to an improved garment to be wornupon the legs and feet in the manner of leggings, putties, gaiters and similar articles.

The covering which I have invented comprises a slitted body member that is adapted to embrace the ankle and part of the foot, the slit being closed by means of the well-known hookless fastener or interlocking separable slide fastener. The instep strap is bodily detachable from the body member in order that it may be readily replaced, and the pattern of the material that forms the body member has an integral portion which projects below the margin of the member and forms a tab. This integral tab is of an outline that provides a laterally extended side portion that projects transversely across the line defined by the slit and the hookless fastener and it has one of the parts of a separable glovefastener secured to it while the other part of the glove-fastener is secured to the finger-piece by which the hookless fastener is operated, so that when the slit has been closed the interengagement of the glove-fastener parts maintains the hookless fastener against accidental release. In addition, should it be necessary to replace the instep strap this may be readily done without affecting the usefulness or the operation of the glove-fastener, because neither of the parts of the latter device are mounted on the strap.

Numerous objects and advantages are attained by the improvements herein disclosed, among which may be mentioned that the article is novel in construction; it is dependable in use; it is capable of being fabricated in a manner to withstand severe usage; it is neat and attractive in appearance; it is easy to apply to or remove from the wearers limb; and it may be produced and sold for a reasonable retail price.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after my invention is understood from the within description. I prefer to accomplish the objects of, and to practice my invention, in substantially the manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto. I now refer to the accompanying drawing that forms a part of this specification, and which shows a typical or preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing:--

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing my improvements applied to an over-gaiter that is opened and with the instep strap shown separated from it.

Figure 2 is a fragmental view partly in section looking towards the toe portion.

Figure 3 is a fragmental View, reduced, showing the slit closed by the hookless fastener and the latter latched against accidental movement.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawing, 5 represents the body member of the covering that is formed from suitably shaped patterns stitched together so that the body member will encircle the ankle and lie against upper portions of the foot. As fabricated the body member is provided on one side with an opening or slit extending from top to bottom thus providing proximate edges or margins 8 and I that may be entirely separated from each other when the gaiter is being applied to the limb of the wearer. These margins 6 and l are provided with the respective longitudinally elongated sections 8 and 9 of an interlocking slide fastener or hookless fastener which are interengaged by means of a slider it that is provided with a loose finger-piece H for moving it in either direction. The upper portions of the sections 8 and 9 are respectively provided with a smooth stud ii that enters a bore in a block I3 to permit complete separation of the sections 8 and 9 by Withdrawing the stud from the block as seen in Figure 1. Thus the covering may be readily applied to or removed from the foot.

When the slider in has been moved down to the lower end of the fastener 8-9 to close the slit by bringing the proximate edges or margins 6 and I together, there is likelihood of accidental slippage in an upward direction and to avoid this result materializing I have provided means for removably securing the slider in place. In order to accomplish this, the material or fabric that forms the body member 5 is provided with an integral portion which extends below the bottom margin of the body member and forms a tab it that is alongside the lower end of the margin 6 of the body. This tab has an enlargement or ear I5 that projects laterally from the side next the margin 6 and is disposed transversely across the line defined by the slit in the body member, and it is free from the adjacent parts. The stud It of a glove fastener device is secured to the ear IS in alinement with the slit and the detachable socket ll of this glove fastener is secured to and carried by the fingerpiece I i that operates the slider, so that when the slider has been moved down to the bottom of the slit it may be held against accidental upward (opening) movement by the interengaged glove-fastener devices.

A buckle I8 is mounted by means of a looped tape I9 at the lower edge of the integral tab [4 and another buckle 20 is mounted by a looped tape 2| at the lower margin of the body member diametrically opposite the slit. These buckles provide convenient means for securing the end portions of the instep strap 22 to the body member, and this arrangement permits replacement of the strap when it has become useless without affecting the usefulness or the operation of the glove-fastener to maintain the slider in a locked position. It will be noted the strap is not permanently attached to the body member in the usual manner by stitching it to the lower margin of the body member opposite the opening or slit, but it is free to be detached at either or both of its. ends from the body member.

What I claim is:

1. A foot-covering and the like comprising an ankle-embracing body having a slit at one side; slide fastener devices for closing said slit; a finger-piece for operating said devices; an extension formed as a part of and borne by said body, said extension projecting below the lower margin of the body and transversely across the line defined by said slit; separable fastener members mounted respectively on said extension and said finger-piece; means at the lower portion of said extension and also at the opposite side of said body for fastening a strap; and a strap pro-' vided with means at both ends adjustably cooperating with said last-named means.

2. A foot-covering and the like comprising an ankle-embracing body having a slit at one side; slide fastener devices for closing said slit; a finger-piece for operating said devices; an extension formed as a part of and borne by said body, said extension projecting below the lower margin of the body and transversely across the line defined by said slit; separable fastener members mounted respectively on said extension and said finger-piece; buckles at the lower portion of said extension and also at the opposite side of said body for adjustably fastening a strap; and a strap provided with means at both ends adjustably cooperating with said buckles.

3. A foot-covering and the like comprising an ankle-embracing body having a slit at one side; slide fastener devices for closing said slit; a finger-piece for operating said devices; a tab on said body projecting below the lower margin thereof and disposed transversely across the line defined by said slit; separable fastener members mounted respectively on said tab and said fingerpiece; means at the lower portion of said extension and also at the opposite side of said body for fastening a strap; and a strap provided with means at both ends adjustably cooperating with said last-named means.

GEORGE MANOLIS. 

